1999 | Dir. John Lasseter | 95 Minutes
"Somewhere in that pad of stuffing is a toy who taught me that life's only worth living if you're being loved by a kid, and I traveled all this way to rescue that toy because I believed him."
After being stolen by an unscrupulous toy store manager, Woody discovers his identity as a rare collector’s item as well as the ultimate fate of toys once they are outgrown by their owners. As Buzz and the other toys mount a mission rescue Woody, he must decide whether to travel to Tokyo with other toys in his set to be displayed in a museum or to return to Andy.
One of the rare film sequels that is better than the original film, Toy Story 2 is a surprising emotional tour de force that packs even more humor, charm, and heart than its predecessor into its 95-minute runtime. The heart of the film is carried by Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl and her touching story of love and loss, acting as a foil to the story of Woody. A musical montage mid-film detailing Jessie's past remains one of the most affecting sequences ever animated. From its action-packed opening sequence that shows off all of the visual advances of the medium in the four years since Toy Story to its thrilling finale in an airport, Pixar Animation Studios continues to demonstrate its mastery over the art of computer animation.
The core cast members of the first film including Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, Annie Potts, and Jennifer Anniston reprise their roles from the first film without missing a beat. Allen in particular has a bit of fun playing the duo roles of the Buzz Lightyear audiences have grown to know and love and another Buzz, fresh out of the box and as delusional as Andy's Buzz when he first met Woody and the other toys. Joan Cusack shows incredible range, in turns delightful and heartbreaking as the energetic Jessie, fearing being put into storage more than anything. Fraiser star Kelsey Grammer plays prospector toy Stinky Pete whose motivations aren't as affable as they may seem from the outset. Rounding out the supporting cast are Seinfeld stars Estelle Harris and Wayne Knight as Mrs. Potato Head and Al of Al's Toy Barn respectively.
Toy Story 2 is a high benchmark picture for Pixar Animation Studios. The film is without argument one of the best animated feature films ever produced.
JOHN RATZENBERGER AS...
- Hamm the tech-savvy piggy bank
A113
- "LassetAir Flight A113" can be heard over the airport intercom during the film's finale
PIXAR INTERCONNECTIVITY
- Clips from early Pixar animated shorts Tin Toy, Knick Knack and Luxo, Jr. can briefly be seen when Hamm flips channels on the television to find the Al's Toy Barn commercial
- The man that Al calls to repair Woody is Geri from 1997 Pixar animated short Geri's Game
- The ball from 1986 Pixar animated short Luxo, Jr. appears in the commercial for Al's Toy Barn, and several Luxo Balls appear at the store during the toys' mission to save Woody
- A calendar featuring a scene from A Bug's Life hangs in Andy's room
- Mrs. Potato Head reads an A Bug's Life picture book to the preschool toys
- A Bug's Life toys are on display at Al's Toy Barn
- Heimlich from A Bug's Life makes a cameo appearance when Buzz and the toys cut through shrubbery on their way to Al's apartment
FRAGMENTS
- Toy Story 2 began as a straight-to-video sequel produced by Disney without Pixar’s involvement; Disney’s version was quickly scrapped and the film was rebuilt from scratch personally under the direction of John Lasseter after he learned of Disney’s plan
